Project boat - Triggerfish

[combackid]

Guys and Gals, I've owned Triggerfish for about 15 years now and I love her more than most people in my life say is normal. She's in the Bahamas, which has made her a handful to keep up with, but we've made it through most of the steep learning curve relatively unscathed.

While I've really enjoyed all of the projects she keeps me busy with, I've reached the point in my life that I'd like to do more fishing than fixing. In addition, I'd like to bring her up to the times which is well above my ability and that of local talent. If it's possible to be equally excited and trepidatious at the same time, I have some idea of what I'm getting myself into and still am hoping to proceed.

She's a project boat to be sure. More specifically, she needs a refresh from bow to stern and, more dauntingly, those 7.4L mercs are just a bear on fuel. With great respect to the outboard folks, I'm in the diesel conversion mindset. In short, everything on the list are above my ability and what I can get done in the Bahamas. My hope is to get her back to the east coast of Florida and have her looked after properly.

I did reach out to Danny @ Hightide and he gave me the name of a 31 specialist, alas they no longer do bigger projects. He's working on other possibilities but I thought I would reach out to this knowledgeable group as well for any suggestions that you might have.

I admit I have only an small idea of what lies ahead and the drama that likely ensues; I'm a pilot as well so I'm quite familiar with the "if it flies, floats, or ...., it's cheaper to rent" mentality, so I feel somewhat prepared.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions for SE Florida shops that would be up to the task, and particularly those with 31 experience. I've read a great deal about repowers on the site, though I admit I'm no closer to a preference than when I started which is one of the many elements I'm hoping to rely on a knowledgeable shop to help determine.

Thanks folks.

Mark

[Carl]

Mark-

I've heard lots of good about Carl at Elite and 31 Bertrams. Other then buying some parts and used deck from him I have no first hand knowledge.
I know you said SE Florida, but St Petersburg is only up a little and across the State.

http://www.elitemarinestpete.com/


I'd love to see the progress, so don't be a stranger.

Good luck,
Carl


Look at that...found a couple of our members (past and present) pictures on their Facebook page.

Anyone read Chinese ???


https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=66 ... 2207520000

[Ironworker]

Mark,

Where is your boat in the Bahamas? I'm currently in Spanish Wells in N. Eleuthera with my 31 that is very close to being finished. You are welcome to check her out if you need some motivation. You can find some of my info under the thread "Resurrection of the Pepper"

Currently there are two other 31 Bertrams here in SW that are also in need of restoration. One is for sale.

I looked around the West Palm Beach up to Stuart area for someone to retrofit my boat but couldn't find a boat yard that would allow my boat there for two years. I did run into a guy that had his own shop that came highly recommended and had extensive 31 experience though he wanted to work on the boat part time and wouldn't commit to a schedule. I maybe able to find his contact info if you are interested.

I ended up rebuilding the boat myself in my yard in SC.

I think you are on the right track. Get rid of the gas engines and go diesel. Get yourself a good plan before you get started.

BTW, what do you fly?

[combackid]

Thanks Carl - I appreciate the encouragement. Given the project St Pete isn’t that far out of line and definitely worth the investigation. I’ll certainly give them a ring.

I’ll keep the thread up to date on the progress and likely pick your brain, if you’ve the time, once the power plant topic comes up. Cummins vs Yanmar, seems like there’s lots of support on both sides.

Thanks again.

[combackid]

Ironworker,

It really is a small world. The Triggerfish is right around the backbone from you, moored on the south end of Harbour Island. Pulling her out for the season when I get down in a couple weeks. Stop and take a look, just please don’t judge her - she tends to be sensitive to criticism. . . .

I had dreams of doing it myself as well, and have done decently keeping up with her, but as you likely know getting parts and materials to that neck of the world can be a real bear. And, if I were honest, I’m not confident I could hold my end on the quality (or the time) that I’d want for an offshore boat.

Enjoy SW, it’s beautiful. She might have a little trouble getting in, but hit the sandbar restaurant if you haven’t already. Have a couple goombays for me. Thanks for the encouragement and safe travels back.

BTW, I fly a P210. Nothing fancy but it gets from Chicago to Eleuthera in relatively quick form.

[Carl]

Mark-
Yanmar and Cummins are both good options. I'm partial to heavy, slower reving diesel and went that way. But had the opportunity for Yanmars come up first I'd have them.

Huge part of the decision is parts and good service...you hope you won't need much of either but when you do which is more readily available.

[Ironworker]

Ironworker,

It really is a small world. The Triggerfish is right around the backbone from you, moored on the south end of Harbour Island. Pulling her out for the season when I get down in a couple weeks. Stop and take a look, just please don’t judge her - she tends to be sensitive to criticism. . . .

I had dreams of doing it myself as well, and have done decently keeping up with her, but as you likely know getting parts and materials to that neck of the world can be a real bear. And, if I were honest, I’m not confident I could hold my end on the quality (or the time) that I’d want for an offshore boat.

Enjoy SW, it’s beautiful. She might have a little trouble getting in, but hit the sandbar restaurant if you haven’t already. Have a couple goombays for me. Thanks for the encouragement and safe travels back.

BTW, I fly a P210. Nothing fancy but it gets from Chicago to Eleuthera in relatively quick form.

Mark,

I've got a lot of time in C210s NA but not the Ps. I currently fly a Beech A36 TN.

You are just right around the corner! When you come down, swing by SW and I'll share some of what I've learned about retrofitting a 31. We should be here another month or so before heading back to Florida. We added some features to our boat primarily for boating in the Bahamas. We widened the chine to create spray rails and widened the flybridge. Both have worked out great.

We also went with an open cabin concept. I moved the rear bulkhead back and forward bulkhead forward to get 9' in the cabin to accommodate storage and sleeping for a a guy who is 6' 2" tall. I installed the Cummins QSB 5.9s 380 HP engines

[combackid]

Rick,

I'd sure like to see her and pick your brain. That Cummins is one of the few on my list so that is an extraordinary offer. Triggerfish is a Bahia Mar with a tower. Wilco, I'll shoot you a note when my plans firm up to see if you're still on island.

Thanks Rick - looking forward to it.

M.

[Ironworker]

If you have the Bahia Mar then the the spray rails are a must. I loosely patterned my spray rails after Reel Cowboy in Texas. Send me a PM and I'll send you my contact info.

[Carl]

If you have the Bahia Mar then the the spray rails are a must.

Why do you say that Rick?

[Ironworker]

Why do you say that Rick?

Mostly because I had a couple of glasses of wine! However, I'm also repeating what the former owner of Reel Cowboy told me when I spoke to him about how effective his spray rails were.

I didn't have a lot of time in a 31 Bertram before I finished mine. However they are known to be as "wet boats". My boat is not wet at all. I'm surprised how effective the spray rails (really widened chines) are.

[combackid]

I'll take all the input I can get.

PM coming. Thanks Rick

[Carl]

Gotcha Rick...The 31 is a wet boat, I had not heard the Bahia was any better or worse. That said, the Bahia like my Express has us at the helm alot lower where much of the spray coming back winds up. I tend to drive with helm window raised, so what comes back I get to enjoy. Then again I've been in the tower and just knew a bath was inevitable launching over a wake. After the time I'm thinking about, I have my running clothes and dinner clothes stashed away till after we dock.

[pschauss]

Related to the spray issue, the instrument panel for my lower helm is a molded fiberglass unit which sits on top of the shelf which run across the forward end of the cabin, under the front windows. The joint between this unit and the shelf is not sealed in any way so that water coming in the front windows can run down into the space below where the wiring feeds into my fuse panel. Any ideas how I can seal this joint?

[PeterPalmieri]

My biggest regret was to not take up a friends offer to buy his 20’ seacraft to hold me over while I was laid up for 2 years. Waiting is painful.

No advice on a shop to use, if you don’t have a budget I’d be looking at the shop in New England that did the boat that was in Soundings or Bayliss. Elite Marine has a specific formula, if that’s what you want they really do a great job.

Best of luck, I’m at the end of my journey just waiting on a survey and a couple loose ends and I’ll be taking possession. Went with 370 6BTAs and I don’t think I’ll ever wish I went for less horsepower even though I started out thinking I’d be happy with 220s.

[combackid]

Thanks Guys. I wouldn't say it's an endless budget but I know it's gonna hurt. I've already told my crew they will sprinkle me from her when I'm gone, so for me, it's worth the stretch.

She's mostly runs as a day boat, and being a Bahia, as Carl and Rick point out, she can be a bit wet when the weather's up (usually replaces my weekly bath ....). To that end, I'm going for the more minimalist approach - smooth sides, not a ton of amenities, nothing much that you can't hose out the ass end when the day's done. It's a Bahamas boat so the KISS method usually works best.

But, the repower, electronics, material availability and technical experience is well beyond what I can put together locally. I'm a pilot too so I've got voices in my head getting louder each time I head out to the eastern trolling grounds - next stop Spain . . . Time to do something about it.

I've gotten a lead on a few shops that I'm going to try and find the right landing spot. A few shops have shaken me off, not surprisingly, but I hope to find a good fit for next summer. Danny pointed me to Cooley in NE which I'm sure would do an incredible job, but getting her up there would be a real be a real act and I'd prefer to try and find something in Florida if I can find the right match. Might be misguided but that's where I'm at for the moment.

Thanks for the advice Peter. Yep, I've already decided to temporarily reload on a used/clean 25ish CC for the downtime - I wouldn't be able to handle being landlocked. Fortunately, in that neck of the woods, when Triggerfish is back it will be easy to unload a clean CC.

Thanks again guys. I've already gotten some great ideas but would be grateful for any other thoughts.

M.

[Carl]

Went with 370 6BTAs and I don’t think I’ll ever wish I went for less horsepower even though I started out thinking I’d be happy with 220s.

I won’t lie saying I can’t wait to take a ride on a 31 with 6BTAs to feel that wind blow through what little hair I have left. I can truly appreciate the power and speed…at least I think I can.

For me, the box’s my conversion had to check off were reliability, longevity, affordability and a cruise of at least 20mph. The 210s hit them all and I can double check the last box as I can cruise 23mph after adding some cup to wheels.

[Bruce]

If you find yourself in the WestPalm area, let me know and I'll sit down with you if you'd like.
Done 18 31s. Cummins, yanmar, cat, gas, styer, gm diesel refits.

Standard hulls and prop pockets.

Pat and I did 5 together.

[combackid]

Bruce,

I'm all over that. I clear customs @ Ft. Pierce on my way back from Bahamas, so I can definitely drop over - I'd love to stop and sit down.

I'll send you a PM; perhaps we can chat in the meantime.

Thanks a bunch.

M.

[Geebert]

If you find yourself in the WestPalm area, let me know and I'll sit down with you if you'd like.
Done 18 31s. Cummins, yanmar, cat, gas, styer, gm diesel refits.

Standard hulls and prop pockets.

Pat and I did 5 together.

What would be your preferred set up ?

[captbone]

With the price of current 31s that need work, I would say get a different hull to redo and continue to use your boat until she is done. You could find a 31 already in the states and this way you are not under time pressure.

As Pete said, dont be without a boat.

[Tony Meola]

With the price of current 31s that need work, I would say get a different hull to redo and continue to use your boat until she is done. You could find a 31 already in the states and this way you are not under time pressure.

As Pete said, don't be without a boat.

The problem is finding a boat that isn't totally trashed. A friend of mine just sold his 31 and the family that purchased it told him they looked at 20 of them but they were total trash.

I realize it is going to be redone but you need good bones and if the boats abused it just ups the cost of restoration.

[Priceless]

sent you a pm